Social care workers in Wales to receive real living wage uplift

The Welsh Government will publish its draft Budget later today, including funding to ensure social care workers continue to receive the real living wage.

Finance Minister Rebecca Evans will announce recurrent funding of around £70 million to deliver the commitment, as part of a Budget that will prioritise the protection of frontline public services.

Welsh local authorities and health boards will be provided with the estimated £70 million so that they can implement the real living wage uplift – to £10.90 an hour – with workers feeling the benefit by June 2023.

The real living wage is independently calculated by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission.

The uplift will apply to registered workers in care homes and domiciliary care, in both adults and children’s services.

It will also include personal assistants who provide care and support which is funded through a direct payment.

Minister for Finance and Local Government Rebecca Evans said:

“Despite the challenging economic and fiscal context, we remain fully committed to doing all we can to protect the frontline public services that people rely on.

“I am pleased to be able to maintain our commitment to social care workers, and I will be saying more about how we will protect public services when I announce the full details of the Budget later today.

The Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan said:

“We were proud to be able to provide additional funding in last year’s budget to give social care staff across Wales a much-need pay rise. This further uplift will help to support recruitment and retention.

“Social care continues to face considerable pressure. We are doing all we can to work towards improving employment terms and conditions for the sector.

Hannah Blythyn, Deputy Minister for Social Partnership, said:

“The real living wage makes a real difference and puts more money into the pockets of workers on the lowest wages, giving them some protection from the surging cost of living.

“I am proud we are continuing our commitment to the real living wage in social care as part of our broader commitment to fair work.

Welsh Conservative and Shadow Social Services Minister Gareth Davies MS said:

“It is about time the Labour Government delivered on Welsh Conservative calls for a higher wage for social carers, something we called for in the last election.

“It is a shame it took so long to deliver, especially when it would have cost only £9m last year to tie carer pay to NHS pay-scales.

“Now we need to see the other improvements we want for carers from a right to respite to upskilling carers to take on more fulfilling responsibilities.

“This would be in addition to free bus travel and grants to access education, training, and employment for young carers.

“The Budget has to be one of delivery, and this is what the Welsh Conservatives will be pushing for.”